Guiding and centering device for ski-boot

ABSTRACT

The device comprises at least two cooperating profiles, one male, the other female; one profile is integral with the ski, the other integral with the boot. The female profile extends in the longitudinal direction of the element with which it is integral and includes at least one passage defined by two lateral faces, the passage running substantially in the longitudinal axis of the element and having at least one of its ends open to receive the male profile. The cooperation of the male and female profiles ensures correct positioning of the boot in relation to the ski by substantial displacement in the plane of the latter before the ski is finally fitted.

United States Patent 1191 Salomon GUIDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FORSKI-BOOT [76] Inventor: Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon, 34,

Avenue de Loverchy, Annecy, France [22] Filed: May 2, 1973 [21] Appl.No.: 356,353

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 5, 1972 France 72.16103 [52]11.8. C1 ..280/11.35 Y, 280/11.35 T [51] Int. Cl. A63C 9/00 58 FieldofSearch...280/l1.35 T, 11.35 ,11.35 K, 2130/1135 Y, 11.35 c, 11.35 D

[ Dec. 17, 1974 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-RichardA. Schacher Assistant Examiner-.lames M. Slattery [57] ABSTRACT Thedevice comprises at least two cooperating profiles, one male, the otherfemale; one profile is integral with the ski, the other integral withthe boot. The female profile extends in the longitudinal direction ofthe element with which it is integral and includes at least one passagedefined by two lateral faces, the passage running substantially in thelongitudinal axis of the element and having at least one of its endsopen to receive themale profile. The cooperation of the male and femaleprofiles ensures correct positioning of the boot in relation to the skiby substantial displacement in the plane of the latter before the ski isfinally fitted.

15 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTED H 1 I914 3, 854, 742

SHEET 2 BF 3 GUIDING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR SKI-BOOT The presentinvention relates to a device for guiding and centering a boot on a skiprior to the locking operation, or before the boot is put on with theski, this operation being carried out by means of a system for retainingthe boot in its correct position with which the ski is equipped, andwhich is designed to release automatically whenever a load of apredetermined value is applied by the boot to the retaining system.

It is known that a ski cannot be fitted correctly unless thelongitudinal axis of the foot coincides as accurately as possible withthe longitudinal axis of the ski.

In the case of conventional bindings comprising a forward stop and aheel piece, the jaws of which open wide, the foot is guided almostautomatically when the ski is put on. All the skier has to do is toplace the tip of the sole in the jaw of the forward stop and to locatehis foot approximately along the axis of the ski, and then to lower theheel. The jaw of the heel piece engages with the back of the boot, andwhen it is closed, by lowering the heel, it usually locates the bootcorrectly. This is a particularly simple arrangement, since the forwardstop and the heel piece are visible at all times.

This is not the case, however, with bindings comprising parts fitted tothe sole of the boot, since such parts are usually small to avoid takingup unnecessary space on the ski, and fitting them into correspondingparts on the ski is a rather delicate operation.

The problem becomes still more complicated when a portion of the partsfitted to the sole is located thereunder and is therefore no longervisible to the skier.

With bindings of this kind, several attempts are usually needed toobtain correct fitting, a limitation which is often unacceptable to theskier.

The present invention provides a simple and reliable device forcorrectly pre-positioning the boot, the device being intended for usemore particularly with bindings of the type comprising parts fitted tothe sole of the boot.

According to the invention, the device consists of at least twocooperating profiles, onemale and one female, one of which is integralwith the ski and the other integral with the boot. The female profileextends over the length of the element with which it is integral andcomprises at least one passage defined by two lateral surfaces, thepassage running substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axisof the element and having at least one of its ends open to receive themale profile.

This device may be adapted to bindings which are fitted by engaging totoe of the foot with a resilient stop and then sliding the footlongitudinally, in the plane of the ski, until a rear part engages undera part of the heel piece. It will be understood that the cooperationbetween these male and females profiles will ensure cor.- rectpositioning of the boot in relation to the ski when the boot is moved inthe plane of the ski, the guiding device forcing the boot to positionitself accurately in the longitudinal axis of the ski. As a variant, theforward stop and the heel piece may be interchanged.

It will be understood that the male profile may be integral either withthe ski or the boot; the female profile will naturally be located on theother element.

According to one preferred embodiment, the lateral surfaces defining thefemale profile are parallel with each other and with the longitudinalaxis of the element, the distance between the surfaces being slightlygreater than the width of the male profile, in order to allow the twoprofiles to slide easily in relation to each other.

Still in accordance with a preferred form of execution, the passage inthe female profile opens towards the male profile by diverging from thelongitudinal axis of the element. In other words, in the plane of theelement of which it is an integral part, this female profile is shapedlike a funnel, the mouth of which constitutes a reception area for themale profile.

This reception area provided by the female profile may, with advantage,extend over most of the width of the boot or the ski, in order to allowthe profiles to cooperate, even if the boot is first of all placedobliquely.

Finally, the male profile may, with advantage, be in the form of aprojecting stud. If there is only one such stud, it will be located onthe longitudinal axis of the element of which it is an integral part.

However, two or more studs of this kind may be used, in which case thefemale profile will have the same number of passages.

The profile integral with the boot may be incorporated directly into thelower surface of the sole of the boot or, if use is made of a platetemporarily fitted under the sole of the boot, it may be fitted to thelower surface of the plate.

Finally, the male profile may be of any desired crosssection, namelytriangular, quadrangular, prismatic,

etc.

Various forms of execution of the device according to the invention willnow be described, as non- .restrictive examples, in conjunction with thedrawings attached hereto, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the invention, inwhich the female profile is located within the thickness of the sole ofthe boot;

FIG. 2 is a section along the line II-II in FIG. I;

FIG. 2a is a variant of the device in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 3 and 3a illustrate a second embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3being a side elevation of the sole of a boot fitted with a projectingstud, while FIG. 3a is a plan view of the ski showing the femaleprofile;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the ski according to another embodiment of theinvention, in which the female profile contrived in the ski is designedto cooperate with two projecting studs on the boot;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of another form of execution ofthe invention in which use is made of an intermediate plate temporarilysecured to the boot;

FIG. 5a is a variant of the device in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the invention using an intermediateplate;

FIG. 7 is a partial plan view of FIG. 6, with the boot removed;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of another variant of a plate binding.

For purposes of simplification, it will be assumed in the followingdescription that the system of retaining the boot on the ski is aconventional system consisting of:

a forward stop 1 attached to a ski 2 and comprising a piston 3 which iscaused to project by means of a spring 4; and a heel piece or catch 5attached to the ski by screws 6. The forward stop cooperates with a part7 of substantially V-shaped horizontal cross-section and integral withthe tip of the boot, whereas catch 5 cooperates with a part integralwith the back of the boot having a sloping upper surface 9 and lateralsurfaces 10.

It will easily be understood that this rear part 8 engages under catch 5like a wedge.

This type of binding, however, is not to be considered as beingrestrictive; it may be replaced by any other suitable arrangement. Forinstance, the fixed catch could be replaced by a part moving under theaction of a resilient element. Moreover, the boot-retention system couldbe of the step-in type. A detailed description of this system will notbe given here since it is conventional and is not actually a part of thepresent invention. It will suffice to point out that the ski is put onas follows: the skier first of all brings forward plate 7 into contactwith the piston which he has already retracted by compressing the springwith the aid of a manual device consisting of a rocking lever 1', as maybe seen in full lines in FIG. 1. He then lowers his heel on to the skiand releases piston 3 by lowering lever l under the action of spring 4,the piston pushes the boot backwards until part 8 engages under catch 5.The boot is now in the position shown in FIG. 1 in dotted lines and isheld to the ski.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, elements 7 and 8 have beenconsidered as being secured directly to the sole of the boot. In thiscase, the guiding device according'to the invention consists of a maleprofile ll integral with the upper surface of the ski and in the form ofa cylindrical stud located on the longitudinal axis X-X of the ski (FIG.2). Female profile 12 is contrived directly within the thickness of thesole of the boot and has a receiving area 13 for the male profile 11formed by a cut-out at right angles to the boot. This area is definedrearwardly by a wall 14 and forwardly by two lateral surfaces 15 and 16which are curved and converge towards the longitudinal axis of the boot.Area 13 is extended in the forward direction bya passage in the form ofa throat l7 accommodating male profile 11.

It will be observed that front wall 18 of throat 17 is chamfered, sothat any snow accumulating in the female profile can be removed from theuseful zone of throat l7.

, It will be understood that with this arrangement, if the boot isplaced in the position shown in FIG. 2, i.e., slightly out of alignmentwith the ski, movement of the boot in the direction of arrow 19 willcause curved surface 16 of the female profile to slide along stud 11,therefore causing the boot to pivot in the direction of arrow 20; thuswhen the axis of throat l7 coincides with the longitudinal'axis of theski, part 8 at the back of the boot will be suitably located in relationto catch 5. In this case, after the ski has been put on, stud llperforms the supplementary function of a pivot for the boot as in turnsin the event of a lateral safety release, i.e., in the plane of the ski.

FIG. 2a is a diagrammatic representation of a variant of the systemshown in FIG. 1, in which male profile lla, which is in the form of acylindrical stud, for example, is of a diameter scarcely less than thewidth of the ski 2a. In this case, the female profile contrived in thebottom of the sole of the boot has a throat 17a occupying almost thetotal width of the sole and defined by two narrow lateral wings 17b, 17chaving parallel sides and flat or slightly rounded ends.

Throat 17a opens out into an area 13a of large dimensions. It will beunderstood that when the sole is out of alignment as shown in FIG. 2a,the end of wing 17c rests against the rounded wall of stud 11a on whichit slides in the direction of arrow F when the forward stop applies athrust in the direction of arrow F the boot is thus positionedautomatically.

It will be noted that the pivot could also be in the form of a partmounted to rotate about a vertical axis, in order to assist part 170 toslide.

FIGS. 3 and 3a show a variant in which cylindrical stud 21 is attachedto the sole of the boot and the female profile is contrived in the ski.This female profile may, with advantage, have an area 22 for thereception of male profile 21 which is defined forwardly by a verticalwall 23 and laterally by two surfaces 24 converging towards the axis ofthe ski. Area 22 is extended by a central throat 25 opening into atransverse channel 26.

The position of stud 21 as the boot moves on the ski is shown at 21, 21,21".

In this case, stud 21 performs no function after the ski has been puton.

FIG. 4 shows a ski comprising a female profile adapted to cooperate withtwo studs located on the sole of the boot and shown diagrammatically at27 and 28.

As before, the female profile has an area 29 for the reception of thestuds, two lateral surfaces 30, 31 to guide the studs towards the axisof the ski, and two throats 32, 33 in which studs 27, 28 engage when theboot moves on the ski. Throats 32, 33 open into a transverse channel 34for the release of the studs.

FIG. 5 illustrates an arrangement having an intermediate plate 35 fittedto the sole 36 of the boot 37. This is a conventional arrangement, theplate comprising a forward jaw 38 for the accommodation of the toe 39 ofthe boot, and a locking system 40 consisting of a stirrup mounted topivoton the rear end of plate 35 and equipped with a locking cam 41which cooperates with the back of the boot.

In addition to this, a strap 48 secured to jaw 38 of the plate makes itpossible to secure the boot to the ski, buckle 43 being hooked to theski by means of a device not shown. Thus unit is designed to be insertedbetween forward stop 1 and rear catch 5 of the binding.

The guiding device provided in this case consists of a cylindrical stud45 secured to the ski and designed to cooperate with a cut-out 46 at therear end of plate 35. This cut-out may have two curved surfacesdiverging towards the rear in the form of an axial throat 48 in whichstud 45 is accurately accommodated.

Front surface 49 of the throat may be chamfered to facilitate theremoval of any snow or mud lodging between the plate and the ski. Therear end of plate 34 engages under catch 5 by reason of the wedge shapeimparted to the wings of the plate.

FIG. 5a shows a variant of the device in FIG. 5 comparable with thevariant in FIG. 2a.

In this variant, cylindrical stud 45 (possibly pivoting about itsvertical axis) is slightly smaller in diameter than the width of plate35a, which is similar to plate 35. In this case, however, the said plate35a has only one throat having parallel sides 46a and terminating in asemicircular part 49a. In other words there is no need for convergingsides similar to sides 47 of the device in FIG. 5. Thus wings A A at theend of the plate will be very narrow and they will be preferably, butnot necessarily, rounded off, in order to make it easier for stud 45a toslide.

FIGS. 6,7,8 also illustrate plate bindings. In FIGS. 6 and 7, squarestud 50 is integral with ski 2 and cooperates with a female profile inthe interior of plate 51. This female profile comprises a receiving area52 defined by lateral surfaces 53 which are curved and converge towardsthe axis of the plate, the area 52 opening into a transverse channel 54,the front face of which is preferably chamfered. FIG. 7 shows, in fulllines, the position of the plate immediately before it is put on and, indotted lines, its position after it has been put on.

In FIG. 8, receiving area 56 in the plate extends over a substantiallength thereof, terminating towards the front end in curved, convergingsurfaces 57 opening into an axial passage 58 which, in turn, opens intoan area 59 covering practically the whole width of the plate.

FIG. 8 shows three successive positions of the plate in relation to stud60, as the boot is being fitted.

It should be noted that the male element could be cylindrical, but inthat case the skier would have to ensure that the boot and the ski werecoaxial, and he would have to maintain this coaxiality while putting theski on. With a square profile, however, this coaxiality may be achievedsimultaneously with the pre-centering operation.

It is wished to have it understood that the present invention is notlimited in interpretation except by the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A device for guiding and centering a boot in relation to a ski, priorto the ski-fitting operation carried out by binding means adapted tofasten the boot firm in position on the ski and to release said bootautomatically under predetermined loads, said device comprising: atleast two cooperating male and female profiles, one of said profilesbeing secured to the ski, the other of said profiles being secured tothe boot; said female profile extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe element to which said female profile is secured and including atleast one passage defined by two lateral surfaces, said passage runningsubstantially in the longitudinal axis of said element and having atleast one end open to receive said male profile, said male and femaleprofiles alllowing a longitudinal sliding displacement of said boot onsaid ski to thereby provide a correct positioning of the boot inrelation to the skibefore said bootis fastened firm to said ski by saidbinding means.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said lateral surfaces definingthe passage are parallel with each other and with the longitudinal axisof said element.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said passage in said femaleprofile opens, at the end where said male profile is introduced, into anarea defined by two walls diverging from the longitudinal axis of saidelement.

4. A device according to claim 2, wherein said passage has a widthslightly greater than the transverse dimension of said male profile toallow the displacement thereof when the device is in operation.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said male profile consists ofa single projecting stud located on the longitudinal axis of saidelement.

6. A device according to claim 4, wherein said passage in said femaleprofile opens, at the end where said male profile is introduced, into anarea defined by two walls diverging from the longitudinal axis of saidelement; said female profile including a single straight passage in thelongitudinal axis of said element.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein said male profile consists ofa plurality of projecting studs, said female profile exhibiting aplurality of straight passages parallel with the longitudinal axis ofsaid element.

8. A device according to claim l, wherein said male profile is integralwith the lower surface of the sole of the boot, said female profilebeing contrived in the upper surface of the ski.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said male profile consists ofa part integral with the upper surface of the ski and projectingupwardly.

10. A device according to claim 1, wherein said female profile iscontrived directly in the lower surface of the sole of the boot.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sole of the boot isintegral with a temporarily fitted intermediate plate, said femaleprofile being contrived in the lower surface of said plate.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sole of the boot isintegral with an intermediate plate, said male profile being integralwith said intermediate plate, said female profile being contrived in theski.

13. A device according to claim 1, wherein said male profile has acircular cross-section.

14. A device according to claim 1, wherein said male profile has aprismatic cross-section.

15. A device according to claim 1, wherein said male and female profilescooperate equally during a safety release of the binding, said maleprofile constituting a pivot for the boot.

1. A device for guiding and centering a boot in relation to a ski, priorto the ski-fitting operation carried out by binding means adapted tofasten the boot firm in position on the ski and to release said bootautomatically under predetermined loads, said device comprising: atleast two cooperating male and female profiles, one of said profilesbeing secured to the ski, the other of said profiles being secured tothe boot; said female profile extending in the longitudinal direction ofthe element to which said female profile is secured and including atleast one passage defined by two lateral surfaces, said passage runningsubstantially in the longitudinal axis of said element and having atleast one end open to receive said male profile, said male and femaleprofiles alllowing a longitudinal sliding displacement of said boot onsaid ski to thereby provide a correct positioning of the boot inrelation to the ski before said boot is fastened firm to said ski bysaid binding means.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidlateral surfaces defining the passage are parallel with each other andwith the longitudinal axis of said element.
 3. A device according toclaim 1, wherein said passage in said female profile opens, at the endwhere said male profile is introduced, into an area defined by two wallsdiverging from the longitudinal axis of said element.
 4. A deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein said passage has a width slightly greaterthan the transverse dimension of said male profile to allow thedisplacement thereof when the device is in operation.
 5. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein said male profile consists of a singleprojecting stud located on the longitudinal axis of said element.
 6. Adevice according to claim 4, wherein said passage in said female profileopens, at the end where said male profile is introduced, into an areadefined by two walls diverging from the longitudinal axis of saidelement; said female profile including a single straight passage in thelongitudinal axis of said element.
 7. A device according to claim 1,wherein said male profile consists of a plurality of projecting studs,said female profile exhibiting a plurality of straight passages parallelwith the longitudinal axis of said element.
 8. A device according toclaim 1, wherein said male profile is integral with the lower surface ofthe sole of the boot, said female profile being contrived in the uppersurface of the ski.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said maleprofile consists of a part integral with the upper surface of the skiand projecting upwardly.
 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein saidfemale profile is contrived directly in the lower surface of the sole ofthe boot.
 11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the sole of theboot is integral with a temporarily fitted intermediate plate, saidfemale profile being contrived in the lower surface of said plate.
 12. Adevice according to claim 1, wherein the sole of the boot is integralwith an intermediate plate, said male profile being integral with saidintermediate plate, said female profile being contrived in the ski. 13.A device according to claim 1, wherein said male profile has a circularcross-section.
 14. A device according to claim 1, wherein said maleprofile has a prismatic cross-section.
 15. A device according to claim1, wherein said Male and female profiles cooperate equally during asafety release of the binding, said male profile constituting a pivotfor the boot.